University of Texas Women’s Head Coach Kim Brackin Signs with TYR through 2012

TYR Sport, Inc. is pleased to announce the signing of University of Texas women’s head coach Kim Brackin to a multi-year partnership through 2012. With years of coaching experience at the collegiate, national, and international level, as well as extensive expertise in technique analysis, Brackin promises to add widespread value to the TYR community. Brackin has served as head coach of TYR-sponsored University of Texas’ women’s program since 2006. The program’s accomplishments under her leadership include a fifth place finish at the 2009 NCAA Championships, a 2009 Big 12 Championship title, and the development of numerous All-Americans and Big-12 conference champions. She came to Texas after an eight year stint at Auburn University (1997-2005), serving as co-head coach of the women’s team in her last three years. During her tenure, the program captured seven NCAA Championship titles, and Brackin was named the 2002 NCAA Women’s Swimming Co-Head Coach of the Year and the 2003 SEC Swimming Co-Head Coach of the Year. “TYR has worked with Kim before, when she was at Auburn helping that team win multiple NCAA championships, so when she took over such an historic program like the Longhorns, there was no hesitation on our part to want to work together again” said Promotions Director Matt Zimmer. “Kim has always been a part of the TYR family, and we couldn’t be happier to be a partner with her again. We know there are more championship rings in her future.” Brackin is also known for her extensive background on the international level. Acting as head coach of the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games for Zimbabwe, she guided former Auburn stand-out Kirsty Coventry to the South African country’s first Olympic medal in swimming. Coventry captured a combined seven medals in the Olympic games, including two gold medals, while breaking two world records in the process. Brackin was also on the Panama coaching staff for the 2003 World Championships, as well as the USA coaching staff at the 2003 World University Games, and the 2002 US National Junior Team. “I am thrilled to rejoin the TYR family, this time as a Texas Longhorn,” said coach Brackin. “I am confident that the Texas women’s swimming team will exemplify what TYR strives for daily, which is excellence in the competitive arena. Beyond the innovative approach TYR takes to designing high-performance suits, it was its commitment to athletes and coaches to help us win championships that brought me back to TYR.” Invested in supporting excellence in all facets of competitive swimming, TYR also sponsors Sean Hutchison, currently the head of KING Aquatics and the 2009 USA World Championship Team Head Coach,coach Bill Rose of Mission Viejo-a 2008 USA Olympic Games coach, head diving coach for Indiana University and 2009 World Championship Team head Jeff Huber, and French Swimming Federation coach Lionel Horter.